Banking Industry

Erste Bank und Sparkassen Increase Operating Earnings by 16 Percent to EUR 947 Mln

Erste Bank und Sparkassen have concluded the year 2014 with a successful result. Operating Earnings increase from EUR 817.2 million to EUR 947.2 million.

March 6, 2015

UniCredit Private Banking Receives Euromoney Awards

UniCredit Private Banking has been recognized for its services, winning 14 awards in different regional and local categories in Euromoney magazine´s Private Banking Survey 2015.

February 10, 2015

Global Finance Awards Bank Austria "Best Trade Finance Bank"

US-based finance magazine Global Finance has named Bank Austria the "Best Trade Finance Bank" in Austria for 2015 based on an annual survey of analysts, managers and technology experts in 84 countries.The main criteria used to select the winners were transaction volume, geographical reach, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative technologies.

January 22, 2015

ECB Unleashes Quantitative Easing - How does it work?

Today, the ECB finally commenced on a large scale sovereign bond-buying programme. The €60bn monthly asset purchases include covered bonds and asset backed securities. Due to the flood of cheap money, the DAX was boosted. The index increased by up to one per cent to a record high of 10,399.67 points. Quantitative easing is a monetary policy where a central bank creates new money electronically to buy financial assets. The aim is to stimulate an economy when standard monetary policy has become ineffective. How does it work?

January 22, 2015

BAWAG PSK Bank Sets-up London Branch Office

BAWAG PSK, the Cerberus and Golden Tree majority-owned Austrian bank, recently opened a branch office in London to help develop "its international business franchise", i.e. corporate finance, specialty finance and commercial real estate finance, Bawag's interim report Q3 2014 shows.

November 13, 2014

UniCredit Bank Austria Appoints Vivaldi as Head of its CEE Division

UniCredit has appointed Mr. Carlo Vivaldi as the Head of Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) Division. In this function Mr. Vivaldi will succeed Mr. Gianni Franco Papa, who has already been designated in August. In view of the appointment resolved today by UniCredit Board, the Supervisory Board of Bank Austria will be called upon to approve the appointment of Mr. Vivaldi also in the bank's Management Board.

November 11, 2014

Who is Private Equity Investor Advent International?

Advent International is an American global private equity firm focused on buyouts of companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on international buyouts, growth and strategic restructuring in five core sectors. In 2008 the firm raised an additional €1 billion for investments in Central and Eastern Europe. Advent has acquired a number of companies in Central and Eastern Europe through its dedicated regional funds. These include Romanian Ceramica IASI, one of Romania’s leading ceramic bricks and clay roof tiles producers, Bolix, a leading Polish producer of construction chemicals, Dufa Deutek, Romania’s largest decorative paints producer, and LaborMed Pharma, which manufactures and distributes generic pharmaceuticals primarily for cardiovascular and central nervous system aliments, and now Hypo Group Alpe Adria's Balkan assets.

October 30, 2014

Axel Hummel Appointed CEO of Sberbank Europe

Sberbank Europe AG announces the appointment of Axel Hummel as its new CEO, following the resignation of Mark Arnold. The appointment is effective 22 October 2014, subject to regulatory approval. Sberbank Europe AG is based in Vienna.

October 27, 2014

RBI Revises Expected Provisioning Requirement

Vienna based Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has revised its outlook for the net provisioning requirement for the current financial year to between EUR 1,500 and EUR 1,700 million, primarily due to higher expected risk costs in Ukraine in light of ongoing political tensions in the region.

September 23, 2014

OVAG to Merge With Another Bank?

A merger or collaboration of some sort with another bank may be in sight for Austrian bank group Osterreichische Volksbank AG (ÖVAG), Standard daily reports in its Tuesday issue. US investment bank Lazard is on lookout for offers.

September 9, 2014

RBI Redeems Participation Capital

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is now also repaying the privately-placed participation capital. On 6 June 2014, RBI paid back the state-held tranche of the participation capital with a nominal value of € 1.75 billion. On 10 September, the repayment of the outstanding participation capital held by private investors with a nominal value of € 0.75 billion will follow.

September 8, 2014

Buwog: The ATX of the Vienna Stock Exchange has a New Member

At today's meeting, the Index Committee has decided on changes in the composition of Austrian stock indices. All changes become effective as of 22 September 2014. In the Austrian leading index, ATX, Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG will be replaced by BUWOG AG.

September 2, 2014

S&P Downgrades Erste, RZB, UniCredit, Affirms HYPO NOE, KA Finanz, Upgrades HYPO OO

S&P is downgrading three banks, affirming the ratings on two banks, upgrading one bank, and lowering various issue ratings on the banks' hybrid capital and guaranteed grandfathered debt.

August 13, 2014

Bank Austria Posts Net Profit of EUR 776 Mln in H1 2014

Net profit rises by 34.3 per cent to EUR 776 million compared with the same period of the previous year.

August 6, 2014

VBAG Sold Private Equity Portfolio

Österreichische Volksbanken AG (VBAG) makes progress with the implementation of its restructuring program by selling a EUR 110 million portfolio of private equity fund investments and direct investments in German speaking countries and Eastern Europe.

July 31, 2014

Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer Signs Hypo Special Act into Law

After intensive testing, together with the former President of the Constitutional Court and current adviser to the President, Prof. Dr. Ludwig Adamovich, Federal President Heinz Fischer has decided to carry out the notarization of the adopted bill and thus clear the way for review by the Constitutional Court.

July 31, 2014

Analysis: Russia - Assessment of EU and Tightened US Sanctions

Special analysis covering the most recent escalation in terms of Western economic and financial sanctions against Russia: EU and US sending bold diplomatic signals without inflicting too much near-term economic and financial damage. In comparison to the US sanctions by the EU are capped in duration. Recent escalation adds to uncertainty in doing business with Russia, which is an ultimate goal of sanctions. Near-term impact of current sanctions still limited, which implies a risk that they may remain for longer.

July 31, 2014

Volksbank Romania Sells EUR 495 Million NPL Real Estate Portfolio

Volksbank Romania has reduced its non-performing loans portfolio (NPLs) through the sale of a NPL real estate portfolio with an aggregate volume of € 495 million. The Bank has sold the large-volume real estate financing commitments to an international investors consortium composed of Deutsche Bank, AnaCap Financial Partners LLP, H.I.G Capital International Advisers and APS Holding SE. With this transaction, Volksbank Romania has reduced its NPL portfolio to a NPL ratio of below 8%, below the average in Romania's banking system.

July 28, 2014

RBI Raiffeisen Bank International Swallows Centrobank

Raiffeisen Centrobank (RCB), which is the investment vehicle of Raiffeisen group, will be integrated into its parent RBI Raiffeisen Bank International.

June 30, 2014

Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank AG Changes Its Corporate Name to Austrian Anadi Bank AG

HYPO ALPE-ADRIA-BANK AG, former Austrian subsidiary of HYPO ALPE-ADRIA-BANK INTERNATIONAL AG, adopted a change in corporate name to Austrian Anadi Bank AG by means of an amendment to the articles of association approved at the extraordinary shareholder's meeting held on 16 June 2014.

June 27, 2014

Sevelda: "RBI to Increase the Cost Reduction Even More"

Raiffeisen Bank International must not only save 450 million euros, but about 600 million euros, says CEO Karl Sevelda.

June 16, 2014

Sevelda: “Russia Still Crucial Market”

In the light of the close ties with regard to economic and energy relations with Russia Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) warns about the tightening of penalties against Russia.

May 23, 2014

Erste Group Bank AG: Voting Results of the 21st AGM - New Board Members

Erste Group Bank AG increased the number of its supervisory board members to eleven.

May 22, 2014

Erste Group Bank AG: Voting Results of the 21st AGM

Erste Group Bank AG has published the voting results of the 21st Annual General Meeting, which took place on 21 May 2014 at 10 a.m., as follows.

May 22, 2014

High Potential for Austrian Investments in Moldova

Austria is one of the most active countries in the CESEE region ranking first in foreign direct investments (FDI) in many countries.

May 22, 2014 · Updated: May 22, 2014; 13:05

Fischer: Room for Further Trade with Albania

Austrian President Heinz Fischer was paying a visit to Western Balkan States.

May 22, 2014

Austrian Oberbank Shines in Hungary

Austrian Oberbank bucks the trend of terminating business activity in Hungary. Instead, the financial institute plans on growing in one of the most difficult markets in Europe.

May 22, 2014

Billionaire Sheikh Al Jaber Sues Immoconsult and the Schwarzenberg Foundation

Due to a failed hotel project in Vienna real estate affiliate of Volksbank, Immoconsult, is facing a lawsuit by the Austrian/Saudi Arabian investor Mohamed Al Jaber.

May 21, 2014 · Updated: May 21, 2014; 18:51

Romania: Banca Transilvania Gives Shares to Employees

As part of the loyalty program, the Romania lender gave almost 10 million shares to its employees.

May 12, 2014

Czech Arca Capital to Invest in Romania

As reported by daily E15, Czech investment group Arca Capital is planning to make a huge investment in Romania.

May 12, 2014

South Korean Bank Preparing for Business in CEE

Shinhan Bank, one of the largest banks in the South Korea, will open branches in Poland.

May 12, 2014

World Bank Approves Health Loan to Croatia

The Croatian government will use the World Bank’s funds for a national health program.

May 9, 2014

Romania: Raiffeisen Bank Issues Unsecured Bonds

Raiffeisen announced plans of issuing unsecured bonds at the stock exchange in Bucharest with a nominal value of RON 500m (€ 112.8m) with a maturity of five years.

May 9, 2014

Poland: Banking Industry’s Profits Down

In the first quarter this year, the net profit of Polish banks came at PLN 3.97bn (€ 944m, down by 2.9 percent year-on-year, as reported by the Polish financial market regulator KNF.

May 9, 2014

Sanction Imposed on Expobank

Russian-Latvian Expobank was added to the Canada’s black list.

May 9, 2014

Verbund: Trying to Get Rid of Sorgenia

The Austrian utility Verbund announced not being willing to invest any further money into loss-making Italian energy group Sorgenia.

May 8, 2014

Hypo Group to Shut Down Subsidiaries in Italy

Until the end of this year five subsidiaries in Italy will be closed.

May 6, 2014

Agenda Austria 2020: Economy = State

The think tank Agenda Austria 2020 is currently tackling the question what the “economy expects from the state”.

May 5, 2014

Hypo Group: Shady Deals with Balkan Diplomats

The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group has troubles recovering debts.

May 3, 2014

Bulgaria: Banking Sector Getting Back on Feet Again

In the first quarter this year profits of the Bulgarian banking sector grew by 34 percent.

May 2, 2014

Bank Austria: “Russia is Still Profitable”

According to Vice CEO of Bank Austria and head of business operations in CEE Gianni Franco Papa, business in Russia is not yet affected by the political crisis in Crimea.

May 2, 2014

Slovenian Banka Celje Needs Further State Aids

Because of the failed capital increase in the amount of € 160m, Banka Celje is requiring further state capital.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Group Investigation Committee to be Established?

Will the Austrian government soon give in to establishing an investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group?

May 2, 2014

Fitch Upgrades Rating for Slovenia

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Slovenia's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the IDRs at 'BBB+'.

May 2, 2014

Austria: Hypo Reveals Profit Losses

The Austrian branch of Hypo Bank, which was privatized last December and is going to be renamed to Austrian Anadi Bank, has published the annual financial report for the year 2013.

April 30, 2014

Austria Gives up Bank Secret for United States

Austria and the US have signed an agreement for the exchange of fiscal data. However, the agreement could be renewed soon.

April 30, 2014

Poland: Bank BZ WBK Expects High Growth of Profit

The Polish affiliate of Spanish Banco Santander, Bank BZ WBK, expects net profits in 2014 to increase compared to last year’s volume.

April 30, 2014

Hypo Group Further Losses to Be Expected

Huge losses by the sale of the SEE banking network could be expected.

April 30, 2014

EU Enlargement: A Success Story for Central Europe

Austria is one of the main beneficiaries of the EU enlargement of 2004.

April 30, 2014

Erste Group: Dramatic Profit Decline Stayed Away

Net profits amounted to EUR 103.3 million. Erste Group aims to keep profits stable in the near future.

April 30, 2014
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